Mycobacterium heckeshornense
Encyclopedia
Mycobacterium heckeshornense
, nonmotile and acid-fast
rods. Cells are typically rod-shaped, with some coccoid forms.
Colony characteristics
Smooth, yellow scotochromogenic
colonies
appear after 4 weeks of culture.
Physiology
Differential characteristics
Strain S369 = CCUG 51897 = DSM 44428
Description
Gram-positiveGram-positive
Gram-positive bacteria are those that are stained dark blue or violet by Gram staining. This is in contrast to Gram-negative bacteria, which cannot retain the crystal violet stain, instead taking up the counterstain and appearing red or pink...
, nonmotile and acid-fast
Acid-fast
Acid-fastness is a physical property of certain bacteria, specifically their resistance to decolorization by acids during staining procedures.Acid-fast organisms are difficult to characterize using standard microbiological techniques Acid-fastness is a physical property of certain bacteria,...
rods. Cells are typically rod-shaped, with some coccoid forms.
Colony characteristics
Smooth, yellow scotochromogenic
Scotochromogenic
Scotochromogenic bacteria develop pigment in the dark or in the light. Runyon Group II nontuberculous mycobacteria are examples but the term could apply to many other organisms....
colonies
Colony (biology)
In biology, a colony reference to several individual organisms of the same species living closely together, usually for mutual benefit, such as stronger defense or the ability to attack bigger prey. Some insects live only in colonies...
appear after 4 weeks of culture.
Physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
- Slowly growing organism, colonies appear after 4 weeks of growth.
- Able to grow at 37 °C and 45 °C.
Differential characteristics
- The phylogenetic position of this speciesSpeciesIn biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
is within the cluster defined by M. xenopi and M. botniense. - Key differentiating features are negative tests for arylsulfatase and pyrazinamidase and susceptibility to antimycobacterial drugs.
Pathogenesis
- Seems to be pathogenic in immunocompetent humans.
- Biosafety levelBiosafety levelA biosafety level is the level of the biocontainment precautions required to isolate dangerous biological agents in an enclosed facility. The levels of containment range from the lowest biosafety level 1 to the highest at level 4 . In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and...
unknown
Type strain
- The type strain was isolated from human lung by bronchoscopyBronchoscopyBronchoscopy is a technique of visualizing the inside of the airways for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. An instrument is inserted into the airways, usually through the nose or mouth, or occasionally through a tracheostomy. This allows the practitioner to examine the patient's airways for...
.
Strain S369 = CCUG 51897 = DSM 44428